Timing mechanism



Jan. 3, 1933. F. A. BOOTH 1,892,928

TIMING MECHANISM Filed Jan. 13. 1931 a I 1, I'INVENTOR 5 BY FRANK A. 500%! r v v ATTORNEY Patented Jan. 3, 1933 I FRANK A. scorn, or EL snennno, CALIFORNIA.

TIMING mnenANIsM Application filed January 13, T1931. Serial Iioi 508,429.

My invention relates to timing mechanisms, andmore particularly to timing mechanisms for controlling electric circuits.

, The objects of this invention are: first, to provide a timing mechanism whereby electric circuits may be closed and opened at predetermined times, and whereby circuits may be closed during predeterminedperiods, and also during predetermined successive periods; second, toprovide a mechanism of this class which consists of a plurality of separate switches in connection with a clock orother timed mechanism so that anyone or a number of switches may be operated for closing portions of the circuit, which circuits are completed by the clock or other timing mechanism, the separate switches controlling the times at whichthe circuit is closed and opened for controlling the duration of a continuous period or successive periods during which the circuit is closed; third, to provide a mechanism of this class in which each of the sep'arate of the multiplicity of switches controls the closing of the circuit for a short period, which period of closed circuit may be e3 tended as; desired by actuating as many of the adjacently positioned switches asnecessary for extending the period for the duration desired fourth, to provide a mechanism of this class in which such multiplicity of separate switches are arrangedin cooperative relation with a clock dial so that the time may be readily determined at or during which the circuit is to be closed; fifth, to provide a mechanism of this class which, when used with the ordinary clock mechanism, will con trol the closing and opening of the circuit for a twelve hour period, and which permits the closing and opening of the circuit :tobe readily varied for each successive twelvehour period; sixth,to provide a mechanism of this class in which a multiplicity of circumferentially spaced apart and outwardly radiating contacts or conductors are arranged con centrically with respect to the axis of the-dial and of the hand moving over the dial, and in which the circuit is completed by a uniformly rotating switch member carried by the spindle moving the hand, and. in which the separate period controlling switchesare arranged in cooperative relation with the outwardly radiating contacts or conductors and 111 cooperative relation with the dial and hand so that the periods of closing and opening the periods may be readily determined; seventh, to provide a simple switch'mechanism for connecting the time mechanism to the desired'circuit, or for cutting out the time mechanism so that the electrical apparatus connected therewith may operate continuously, or which switch may be operated to disconnect the electric current; and, eighth, to provide as a whole a novelly constructed timing and switch mechanism, and one which is relatively simple and economical of construction and durable, onewhich is simple to operate, eificient, and which will not readily deteriorate or get out of order.

With these and other objects in View, aswlll appear hereinafter, I have devised a tim-' ing mechanism having certain novel features of construction, combination and arrange-' ment of'parts and portions, as will be hereinafter described in detail and particularly set forth in the appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawing and to the characters of reference thereon which form apart of this appllcation in which:

Figure lis a partial frontelevational and partial sectional View thereof; Fig. 2 is a frag mentary sectional viewthereof taken through 2-2 of Fig. 1; F ig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view thereof taken through 3-3 of Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view thereof taken through 4& of Fig. 3, showing the main switch; and, Fig. .5 is a diagrammatic view of the electric circuit controlled by the main switch.

Like characters refer to similar parts and portions throughout the views of the draw mg. a 1

The whole of the mechanismis-enclosed in a casing 1 and supported on a base 2. The mechanismmay assume the general appear-' ance of a mantel clock and, when not used as a switch control mechanism, may be used as an ordinary time clock.

In the casing 1 may be mounted an ordinary clock .mechanism. The principal features of. this mechanism as far as it pertains to the present embodiment of my invention, consists of an arbor or spindle 3 which is in tubular form, and which carries at its front or outer end an hour hand 4 and which is rotated at uniform speed by the usual spring mechanism of a clock, the spring and other mechanism being indicated generally by the numeral, 5. The operating connection, between thespindle 3 and the actuating mechanism consisting in this instance of a large gear 6 mounted on -t-he,spindle, a pinion 7 meshing with the gear 6 and mounted on a. spindle 8, a large gear 9 mounted on the spindle 8 and meshing with a pinion lO connected with the actuating mechanism.

Through the tubular spindle 3 extends another spindle 11 which extends with its front endthrough the spindle 3 and carriesthe:

minute hand 12. This spindle 11 is operatively connected with the spindle "3 by a pinion 13 mounted on the spindle 11 and meshing with the gear 9. At the forward portion of the casing 1 and immediately-bebind the hour and minute hands is the usual I the central portion of the support 20 and circumferentially spaced from each other. In the illustration, there are provided fortyeight of these contacts, dividing a twelve hour period into fifteen minute periods. The

inner ends of the contacts 21 extend inwardly.

and slightly beyond the wall forming the I annular central opening 20a of the support 20. The support 20 is provided with an annular channel 20?) outwardly from its central portion and between its front and rear sides. The contacts 21 extend with their outer ends into this annular channel.

In the support are mounted two annular conductors 22 and 23, the former being positioned backwardly from the contacts 21 at their inner ends but protruding inwardly into the annular opening 20a the same distanceas the contacts 21. The other annular conductor 23 is located behind the contacts 21 and adjacent the outer or free ends thereof and is adapted to be engaged by the free ends of the contacts 21 when the same are forced backwardly by-the switch members 24.

On the spindle 3 is mounted aninsulating disc 25 to which is secured a resilient roller support 26, shown best in Fig.. 1. The free end of the support 26is bifurcated and on this bifurcated portion is mounted a roller. 27 which is carried in a circular path by the spindle 3 and is adapted successively to connect the adjacent contact 21 to the annular conductor 22 during the operation of the clock mechanism.

The switch members 24 are pivotally mounted on pins 28 which may consist of a continuous wire ring extending around the support,.as.shown in Fig. 1.. Theseswitch members extend radially from the support 20v and, in this instance, are adapted to be drawn-forwardly for forcing the outer ends of the contacts 21 against the annular conductor 23: These switch members 24 are so arranged at thecircumference of the casing and at the circumference of the dial that it may be determined without difiiculty which switch member must berdrawn forwardlyj in order to close the circuit at a particular time. It will be noted that the roller or switch member 27'is positioned di rectly behind or in alignment with the hour hand or so that the switch mechanism corresponds or coincides hour hand.

At the rear side of the insulating support 20 is provided a pair of terminals 31 and32 with the dial and the.

to which the" two ends of a circuit may be,

connected. The terminal 31 is connected directlyto the annular conductor 22 by a conductor33- At the upper portion of the insulating support is located the mainswitch,

shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 4. 'Thisswitch consists of pairs ofspaced apart contacts 34 and 35 and 36 and 37, and a pivotally mounted switch member 38. At the. inner end of the switch member 38 are provided spring ex-v pandible contacts 39. The contact 37 is connected directly to the annular; conductor 23. The contact 35 is connected to the contact 36,

that is tov the terminal 32.' As theswitch member is shifted to the dotted line positionas-shown in Fig. 3,;the terminal 32 is con-1 nectedto the contact 37 and to the annular; conductor 23, while the terminal 31 is connected to the annular conductor 22, ,thus'placing the mechanism in condition for the time 7 controlling. If the switch member ,38 is shiftedto the opposite angular position, the

terminal 31 is connected to the conductor 35 and thence to the contact 36 and directly .to

the terminal 32, thus cutting out the timing mechanism. If the switch member is in the solid line position shown in F ig- 3, the circuit is broken.

"Thus it will be seen that when the main switch is in the first position referred to, and when certain of the switches '24 are drawn forwardly, the circuit will be completed" at the particular time corresponding with the.

switch member at the particular location with respect to the dial when the hour hand reaches the corresponding position." "{Thus,

if a numberof adjacent switch members 24 are drawn forwardly, the circuit. will be closed for a continuous period and will be broken at the end of the period. The same is true for any group of switches 24.

It will be noted that my timing mechanism herein shown and described is particularly advantageous and desirable in controlling the time and periods at and during which radio receiving sets. are to be operated. The mechanism, however, is so constructed as to be applicable for many uses.

Though I have shown and described a particular construction, combination and arrangement of parts and portions, I do not wish to be limited to this particular construction, combination and arrangement, but desire to include in the scope of my invention the construction, combination and arrange ment substantially as set forth in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a mechanism of the class described, a casing, a clock mechanism mounted in the casing and provided with a uniformly rot-ating spindle, a plurality of contacts positioned around the spindle, spaced from the spindle and circumferentially from each other and radiating outwardly from the spindle, a switch member carried by the spindle and adapted to engage each of the contacts during the rotation of the spindle, an annular distributing ring positioned to one side of and adjacent the outer ends of the contacts, and a plurality of switch members, one being provided for each of the contacts at the outer ends thereof, each of the latter switch members being shiftably mounted on the casing in connection with each of the contacts, said latter switch members being so mounted as to force the respective contacts into engagement with the distributing ring.

2. In a mechanism of the class described, a casing, a clock mechanism mounted in the casing and provided with a uniformly rotating spindle, a plurality of contacts positioned around the spindle, spaced from the spindle and circumferentially from each other and radiating outwardly from the spindle, a

switch member carried by the spindle and engaging each of the contacts during the rotation of the spindle, an annular distributing ring positioned to one side of and adjacent the outer ends of the contacts, a plurality of switch members, one being provided for each of the contacts at the outer ends thereof, each of the latter switch members being shiftably mounted on the casing in connection with each of the contacts, said latter switch members being so mounted as to force the respective contacts into engagement with the distributing ring, a dial extending concentrically around the axis of the spindle, and a hand secured to the spindle and movable over the dial, the switch member carried by the spindle being positioned in substantial alignment with the hand, said other switch members being positioned adjacent the circumferential porltlion of the dial and cooperating there- Wit 3. In a mechanism of the class described, a casing, a clock mechanism in the casing, said clock mechanism being provided with a uniformly rotating spindle, an insulating support mounted in the casing around and coaxial with the spindle, a plurality of resilient contacts mounted in the support and radiating outwardly from the central portion thereof and spaced circumferentially from each other, a switch member carried'by the spindle and adapted to engage the inner ends of all of said contacts, an annular distributing ring mounted in said support at one side of the resilient contacts, and a plurality of switch members mounted on the support for separately forcing the desired contact in engagement with said annular distributing ring.

4. In a mechanism of the class described, a casing, a clock mechanism in the casing, said clock mechanism being provided with a uniformly rotating spindle, an insulating support mounted in the casing around and coaxial with the spindle, a plurality of resilient contacts mounted in the support and radiating outwardly from the central portion thereof and spaced circumferentially from each other, an annular conductor mounted on the support at the central portion thereof and spaced to one side of said contacts, a switch member resiliently and yieldably mounted on said spindle and insulated therefrom connecting each of said contacts with said ring during the rotation of said spindle, a second annular conductor mounted on said support at one side of said contacts adjacent the outer ends thereof, a switch member in connection with each of the outer ends of said contacts for forcing the same into engagement with the second annular conductor, and terminal posts connected to each of said annular conductors.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand at Los Angeles, California this 8th day of January 1931.

FRANK A. BOOTH. 

